Roulette is a game of chance that involves spinning a numbered wheel and betting on which number or grouping of numbers the ball will land in. Players can choose to bet on the color of the number (red or black) or whether it is odd or even, as well as specific groups of numbers, or whether they are in a high or low range.
The name “roulette” is French for little wheel, and it’s said that the game was invented in 1655 by a mathematician named Blaise Pascal. Regardless of its origins, roulette is now one of the most popular casino games around the world. It’s easy to understand why: the game is simple, fast, and fun to play.
Before you start playing, it’s important to decide what your budget is and choose a table that fits within your limits. Roulette tables often display a placard that explains the minimum and maximum bets allowed. You can also look at the odds on each type of bet, which is helpful for choosing a strategy that will maximize your chances of winning.
Once you’ve determined how much to wager, talk to the dealer (called a croupier) about purchasing roulette chips. These are different from regular casino chips and are usually in denominations ranging from $5 to $100. The dealer will ask what denomination you want to designate for each chip, and then will mark it with a colored label. This is done to prevent confusion between players’ bets and to make it easier to keep track of your winnings.
After you place your bets, the croupier will spin the wheel and throw a small white ball into it. The wheel has 36 numbers, plus a 0 and, on some American tables, a 00. When the ball comes to rest in a pocket that corresponds with your bet, you’ve won!
While the house edge is higher for inside bets, the payouts are generally greater as well. This makes them more appealing to some players, especially newcomers to the game who might be concerned about losing large amounts of money.
Outside bets are placed on a specific category of numbers rather than individual numbers themselves, and the payouts are much lower. These bets are more conservative plays, but they’re unlikely to yield a big win unless the ball lands in your chosen category. The most common outside bets are the Dozens bet, which places your chips on a row of 12 numbers; the Columns bet, which places your chips in one of the three columns on the layout; and the Six-Number Bet, or “Sixline,” which places your chips along the horizontal line between two rows of six numbers. The payouts for each are 17-1, 11-1, and 5-1, respectively. If the ball lands on a 0 or 00, all outside bets lose.